A Trust is an entity which owns assets for the benefit of a third person (beneficiary). A Living Trust is an effective way to provide lifetime and after-death property management and estate planning. When you set up a Living Trust, you are the Grantor; anyone you name within the Trust who will benefit from the assets in the Trust is a beneficiary. In addition to being the Grantor, you can also serve as your own Trustee (Original Trustee). As the Original Trustee, you can transfer legal ownership of your property to the Trust. This can save your estate from estate taxes when you die. Just remember that it does not alleviate your current income tax obligations.
Trusts can be revocable or irrevocable. The revocable trust can be amended or discontinued at any time. An irrevocable trust cannot be modified or discontinued. Individuals who use the revocable living trust transfer title of their property into the trust. They, as grantor, appoint themselves as the trustee (manager of the trust) and the beneficiary (receiver of the income). A revocable living trust does not constitute a gift, so there are no gift tax consequences in setting it up.
